Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 14:22-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. Verse 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Verse 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. Verse 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. Verse 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. Verse 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Verse 28Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Verse 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. Verse 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Verse 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Verse 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Verse 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Devotion
A great story draws the listener in so we are right there. We sense the feelings—the terror, fear, hopelessness and despair. We are the disciples. We are Peter. We are the lost ones. Yet the story is not about the disciples or Peter or us. It's about him—Jesus. Read again carefully and really hear the words. Notice the number of times the words "he" or "him" are used. Who is the story about? Not us. Not our feelings. The story is about Jesus. The story reveals this one as no ordinary man. This is THE Savior. Like the disciples, we have times of sheer terror and fear in our lives. With Peter, desperate for salvation, we reach up and cry out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus did. Jesus does. Jesus will. This is the good news. In Jesus, God reaches down into our world and saves us. With the disciples, let us fall down before Jesus and worship. Let us confess with our lips, "Truly this is the Son of God!"
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I fall down before you this day. You are the miracle. You are the gift. You are the Savior, the one who saves me this day and always. With my life and with my lips, I confess, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"